Paysign (PAYS) vs Upwork (UPWK)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 9, 2026.
Summary
Paysign (PAYS) has outperformed Upwork (UPWK) over the past year, gaining 164.8% versus a loss of 52.0%. Over five years, PAYS leads with a +466.7% price change compared with -85.5% for UPWK. Upwork is the larger company by market cap ($1.08 billion vs $863.3 million), about 1.3 times the size.
On valuation, Upwork trades at a lower forward P/E (6.3x vs 24.9x for Paysign).
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | PAYS | UPWK |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $15.29 | $8.67 |
| Market cap | $863.31M | $1.08B |
| 1-day change | +2.21% | +1.11% |
| YTD return | +190.49% | -56.76% |
| 1-year return | +164.78% | -52.02% |
| 5-year return | +466.67% | -85.53% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 56.63 | 11.25 |
| Forward P/E | 24.86 | 6.35 |
| EPS (TTM) | $0.27 | $0.77 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| 52-week high | $15.43 | $22.84 |
| 52-week low | $3.08 | $7.44 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -0.88% | -62.06% |
| Analyst consensus | strong_buy | none |
| Avg. price target upside | -7.78% | +14.02% |
| Average volume | 753.60K | 3.21M |
| Shares outstanding | 56.46M | 124.90M |
| Employees | 226 | 630 |
| Sector | Technology | Technology |
| Industry | EDP Services | EDP Services |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- PAYS has outperformed UPWK by 216.8 percentage points over the past year.
- Paysign trades at a higher earnings multiple (56.6x vs 11.3x trailing P/E).
About Paysign
PAYS stock →Paysign, Inc. provides prepaid card programs, patient affordability offerings, digital banking, life science software technology solutions, and integrated payment processing services for businesses, consumers, and government institutions in the United States.
Technology · EDP Services · 226 employees
About Upwork
UPWK stock →Upwork Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides platforms and workforce solutions that connect businesses with freelance, agency, fractional, and payrolled talent in the United States, the Philippines, India, Pakistan, and internationally. The company offers Upwork Marketplace, a human and AI-powered work marketplace that connects businesses with on-demand access to independent talent across a range of categories, including AI-related projects, administrative support, sales and marketing, design and creative, and customer service, as well as web, mobile, and software development.
Technology · EDP Services · 630 employees
PAYS vs UPWK FAQ
Which is bigger, Paysign or Upwork?
Upwork (UPWK) is larger, with a market capitalization of $1.08B compared with $863.31M for Paysign (PAYS).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, PAYS or UPWK?
PAYS returned +164.78% over the past 12 months, compared with -52.02% for UPWK (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, PAYS or UPWK?
UPWK has the lower trailing P/E at 11.3, versus 56.6 for PAYS. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Are Paysign and Upwork in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the EDP Services industry within the Technology sector.